Sprint seeks help with second coming of Google phone

Dec 22, 2008

Hang on, Sprint.The cavalry is coming.

Reinforcements for the battered wireless company will come in the form of a new Google phone, according to a flurry of reports last week.

Engadget suggested the new Samsung phone running on the Google Android operating system could mark a second coming of the Instinct, a Google-powered version this time around.

"Without a doubt, 2009 is destined to be the year of The Android," Engadget stated. "Samsung just announced its ticket to the party with a Q2 launch of its Android phones on both Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile in the US. Apparently, the touch-screen device will be an adaptation of the Omnia (Korea's 800 x 480 pixel version please) and Instinct. In other words, a rectangle with a full-screen display and minimal set of buttons just like every other touchscreen device out there. In case you missed it, this game is no longer about the hardware. "

Right now, T-Mobile has the only Google phone running free in the wild, the G1.

Tricia Duryee at Moconews said to look for the new Sprint phone between April and June.

Duryee also reports that Android is to be tweaked with a major update under the code name "cupcake."

Here are some of the sweet treats that could be included like icing on a pastry, she said:

"video-recording, and video sharing, which some are jumping to the conclusion that means it will include the ability to upload videos from the phone directly to YouTube, reports readwriteweb.
Other updates on the way:
—Copy and Paste for web browser
—Inline search will help you find text on the web page you’re viewing
—A port of the Java script engine from Google’s Chrome browser
—Stereo Bluetooth profile support and Bluetooth Remote Control support
—Support for third parties to make onscreen keyboards "

noted that Sprint execs are being coy in the Google/Android dance.

"Sprint remained committed to offering a smartphone with Google's Android operating system, but the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier is still noncommittal about a timeframe," Informationweek stated. "'We believe in the vision for Android, so we want to see it get bigger and get healthy,' Kevin Packingham, Sprint's VP of products, told Bloomberg News. 'We can, when the timing's right, pull the trigger.'

Oh, the irony, according to Boy Genius.

It wasn't that long ago, Boy Genius stated, that Dan Hesse, Sprint's CEO, was dissing the Google phone.

And now, "Sprint will apparently be graced by the Google gods," Boy Genius reported.

"Sprint? Huh? Earlier this year, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse stated pretty bluntly that Android isn’t yet “good enough to put the Sprint brand on,” but apparently he’s singing a different tune these days. Anyone excited about this? Yeah… don’t raise your hands all at once."

Source: Sprint Connection